Family demands answers after missing man found dead in Azusa police car
Surveillance video of man found dead in cop car
Eric Valencia, 37, was found dead inside an unlocked, unoccupied Azusa police car parked at the station.
AZUSA, Calif. - The family of 37-year-old Eric Valencia is seeking transparency from the Azusa Police Department after he was found dead in a parked patrol vehicle just days after his birthday.
While authorities have confirmed the vehicle was left unlocked for maintenance, loved ones are questioning how the missing man ended up in the car unnoticed.
What we know:
According to police and family statements, Valencia was found unresponsive in the backseat of a patrol car parked in front of the Azusa police station shortly before 5 a.m. on March 26.
Chief Rocky Wenrick stated the vehicle was "pending mandatory maintenance" and admitted it should have been secured.
Police said Valencia had been taken into custody for a DUI on March 23 but was later released.
"We don't know what took place here," one family member said. "He was pronounced deceased here, you know, in front of the police station. Doesn't make any sense to any of us."
Man found dead in Azusa police car
Authorities confirmed the man was not in custody and entered the vehicle without anyone knowing.
On Monday, March 30, surveillance video showing Valencia's final moments was released to the public.
The video shows Valencia finding an unlocked police cruiser and climbing inside the back of the vehicle.
At the time of his release, the family didn't know Valencia's whereabouts, so they filed a missing person's report.
An Azusa PD employee is seen approaching the car on March 26, ultimately finding Valencia's body inside.
What we don't know:
The specific cause and manner of Valencia's death are currently unknown.
What's next:
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death while the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will review all evidence and security footage.
The JL Group will conduct an independent probe into the department's failure to secure the vehicle.
The Source: This report is based on information from the Azusa Police Department and direct interviews with Valencia's family and friends at the scene in Azusa.